Big Ten Power Rankings: Week 4

Penn State Nittany Lions (3-0)

Ranking: 1

LW: 1

Move: —

Penn State welcomed Georgia State to Happy Valley for their Big Ten tuneup, and throttled the Panthers to the tune of 56-0. As Big Ten play looms, will the Nittany Lions be able to keep up their stellar defensive play which averages a mere 4.6 points per game given up?

Michigan Wolverines (3-0)

Ranking: 2

LW: 2

Move: —

The Wolverines have not been the offensive juggernaut that many expected, but they have done enough to win. Michigan has held all three of their opponest this season under 20 points, but it has also gotten off to three slow starts. The Big Ten season will test the meddle of this squad.

Ohio State Buckeyes (2-1, 1-0 Big Ten)

Ranking: 3

LW: 3

Move: —

The Buckeyes rebounded nicely after their defeat to Oklahoma, taking down Army 38-7. JT Barrett played better, responsible for three touchdowns. Can Barrett and coach Urban Meyer continue to march toward the top of the Big Ten standings? Their season begins after next weeks tuneup against UNLV.

Wisconsin Badgers (3-0)

Ranking: 4

LW: 4

Move: —

Wisconsin took down a struggling BYU squad 40-6 behind the arm of Hornibrook. Throwing for four touchdowns through the air, Alex Hornibrook went 18-19 for 256 yards. Wisconsin is looking to be the best in their division and already in midseason form.

Minnesota Golden Gophers (3-0)

Ranking: 5

LW: 5

Move: —

The Golden Gophers took apart Middle Tennessee behind a good defensive effort and 3 touchdowns by running back Kobe McCrary. Minnesota is already playing well behind new coach PJ Fleck, and look to contend for a Big Ten bowl berth.

Maryland Terrapins (2-0)

Ranking: 6

LW: 6

Move: —

Maryland had the week off before taking on UCF on September 23.

Northwestern Wildcats (2-1)

Ranking: 7

LW: 7

Move: —

Northwestern was able to put on a clinic against Bowling Green, taking away a victory 49-7. Justin Jackson tallied over 120 yards on the ground while Clayton Thorson tacked on 370 in the air. Northwestern faces top 10 Wisconsin in two weeks.

Iowa Hawkeyes (3-0)

Ranking: 8

LW: 8

Move: —

Iowa entered the half against North Texas trailing by 4. After scoring 21 unanswered in the second half, the Hawkeyes were able to pull away from the Mean Green and avoid a massive upset.

Indiana Hoosiers (1-1, 0-1 Big Ten)

Ranking: 9

LW: 10

Move: UP 1

Indiana’s game against Florida International was cancelled due to Hurricane Irma with no make up announced or planned. Indiana will face Georgia Southern next weekend.

Michigan State Spartans (2-0)

Ranking: 10

LW: 11

Move: UP 1

Michigan State had the weekend off and will face Notre Dame on Saturday night.

Purdue Boilermakers (2-1)

Ranking: 11

LW: 13

Move: UP 2

Purdue pulled off one of the more unexpected results of the weekend with a 35-3 drubbing of Missouri. David Blough led the passing game, going 22-for-28 and just under 200 yards. Jeff Brohm is already turning heads at Purdue and may have already gotten them out of the Big Ten Bottom 4.

Illinois Fighting Illini (2-1)

Ranking: 12

LW: 12

Move: —

The Illini came back down to earth this weekend with a 47-23 drubbing at the hands of South Florida. Quinton Flowers tallied up just under 400 yards in the air and on the ground, while being responsible for 5 touchdowns. The thin Illinois defense was tested and strained all game long. The Illini will welcome a week of rest next weekend.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (1-2)

Ranking: 13

LW: 9

Move: DOWN 4

Nebraska paid Northern Illinois almost a million dollars to come in to Lincoln and beat the Huskers. The Huskers will have to regroup and figure out where to go from here. Fans will long for the days of Bo Pelini, and many are beginning to realize that Mike Riley is not the answer.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights (1-2)

Ranking: 14

LW: 14

Move: —

Rutgers got a win!! Morgan State came to High Point Solutions Stadium and got crushed to the tune of 65-0. Johnathan Lewis let the Scarlet Knights with 5 total touchdowns, and Rutgers players and fans had a field day Saturday.